As part of the plans to celebrate the World Endpolio Day which holds every 24th October worldwide, Rotary international a major stakeholder in the Global efforts to eradicate Polio through its affiliate Clubs all over the world held different projects and programmes towards educating and enlightening various communities and people about the effects of Polio disease and what is and has been done so far to "Kick Out" Polio in our society.
Following this developments Rotary Club's within Abeokuta city, RC Abeokuta, RC Abeokuta Metro and RC Oke-Ona Egba partner to hold a joint sensitisation and campaign together in order to celebrate and mark the World Polio day.
The Event which kicked off at the June 12 Cultural Centre Kuto through the Kuto Market via Omida Market terminated at the Post Office-Panseke Market.
Leading the procession is the District Representative and Endpolio Coordinator of District 9110, Rotarian (Dr) Festus Adetonwa and the three Presidents of the organising Clubs Rotarian (Dr) Abiodun Amusan of RC Abeokuta, Rotarian Olayinka Adenuga(Abeokuta Metro) and Rotarian Santa Joseph (Oke-Ona Egba).
Present were the three Rotary Clubs EndPolio Chairpersons, Rotarian (Dr) Taiwo of RC Abeokuta, Rotarian Ola-Davies of Abeokuta Metro and Rotarian (Dr) Shogunle.
Polio, also known as poliomyelitis and infantile paralysis, is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to paralysis, breathing problems, or even death.It occurs mainly in children below the age of 5.
Polio can be classified as occurring with or without symptoms. About 95 percent of all cases are asymptomatic, and between 4 and 8 percent of cases are symptomatic.
Polio vaccine protects children by preparing their bodies to fight the polio virus. Almost all children (99 children out of 100) who get all the recommended doses of vaccine will be protected from polio.
There are two types of vaccine that can prevent polio: inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). Only IPV has been used in the United States since 2000; OPV is still used throughout much of the world.
Speaking during the end polio walk in Abeokuta , the Ogun State Polio representative for district 9110 ,Rotarian Dr. Festus Adetonwa infirmed that Rotary international has committed over 15 billion dollars and 17 million man hours in support of polio eradication project throughout the world. According to him, the campaign for the year 2019 is very peculiar for Nigeria in view of the fact that Nigeria is inching towards being declared polio free.
" This very year own is very peculiar because as at August this year, Nigeria is almost three years without fresh cases of polio virus, which has taken the country to the process of certification as a region. What we are doing is to fortify Rotary's efforts over the years . Any moment from now, Nigeria will be certify polio free. We are looking forward to receiving our certificate this year and this we canvassing that people should not relent in immunising their children because we can not afford to relapse from the vantage position that we are".
Speaking earlier, Rotarian Taiwo Sogunle informed that Rotary has been at the forefront of the fight against the eradication of polio in the last 100 years or thereabout adding that Rotary has been supplying all the Vaccines that are being used to immunise against polio the world over He said " For your information, all the Vaccines for the Vaccination of children against polio is supplied by Rotary International. And, today, October 24 is the day earmarked to create awareness among the people that they should take their children for vaccination, so that polio will end in Nigeria as in other parts of the world".
Also,speaking, Rotarian Dr. Gbenga Taiwo from the Rotary Club of Abeokuta observed " it is to celebrate the World Polio Day which is a day set aside to celebrate countries that are free of polio" . Polio as he said is a debilitating disease that affects children and lower their quality of life . He stated further that " Rotary international has been in the forefront of the fight against polio. We are trying to have a world free against polio. On why the year 2019 walk is paramount he also said " Nigeria is by now almost three years free of polio and by the end of the third year , if we are able to keep Wild Polio Virus out of the country, Nigeria will be certified as a polio free country and that is what Rotary is trying to achieve "
Corroborating their views, the Chairperson, End Polio Project of Rotary Club of Abeokuta Metropolis , Rotarian Olatunji Ola Davies said Rotary international has been a major stakeholder in the efforts to end polio which has been a major concern the world over. According to Rotarian Davies , the group is excited because Nigeria is about to be deleted from the countries of polio concern saying the walk was necessary to further sensitise the people on the need for concerted efforts against the disease.
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